Men’s softball: Buzz & Hank’s takes two

Buzz & Hank’s Potato Factory has now made things very interesting in the 2016 Valley Independent Softball League pennant race as the league season approaches its conclusion.

The Spudmen took two from Porky’s Cafe/Mutiny and actually took over the top spot percentage-wise by virtue of having played more games. Porky’s/Mutiny still holds a one-game edge in the important loss column.

The opener was a nip-and-tuck affair until the Spudsters erupted for seven sixth-inning runs that sent them on to a 13-7 win.

Porky’s/Mutiny held early leads of 2-1 and 3-2 but fell behind 4-3 after four. They went back on top 6-4 with three runs in the top of the fifth, but Buzz & Hank’s tied it up with a pair in its half of the frame.

Then, after zeroing Porky’s/Mutiny in the top of the inning, Buzz & Hank’s sent 13 men to the plate in locking up the victory with their bottom-of-the-inning outburst.

The nightcap saw Buzz & Hank’s take a 3-0 lead in the first and expand on it to pull away to a 12-2 triumph.

Costanzo enjoyed a 4-for-4 game to pace the winning attack. Corey Dzienkiewicz, Mark Osborne and Jacabacci banged out three base hits, each while Fernandez had a pair — including a fence-clearing two-run homer in the third.

Best for Porky’s/Mutiny were two hits apiece by Scott Snell, Steele and Marchese — who was the losing pitcher.

Errorless defense, led by Fernandez in left field and Ryan Osborne at shortstop, backed up winning pitcher Darren Larkin.

There’s a pattern developing here for the Militia softball team.

For the third straight doubleheader, Militia got thumped in the opener only to rebound to emerge victorious in the nightcap.

Capping off its win with a 13-run fourth inning explosion, A Plus Exterior captured the lid-lifter convincingly, 21-0.

Plating four in the first and four more in the third, A Plus led 8-0 before putting the contest out of reach with that fourth-frame scoring spree.

Paul Veilleux, Corey Foster, Luis Rivera and Alex Montero led the offense with a pair of hits each. Anson Mero drove in four runs.

Winning pitcher Fred Davila, backed by an errorless defense, limited Militia to five hits, including a pair by Jimmy Hoffman.

Apparently unfazed by the demolition of the first game, Militia recorded a come from behind 16-13 victory in the nightcap.

With A Plus’ offense dormant in the early going, Militia took advantage and went out to a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the third. A Plus then woke up from its batting slumber and put six on the scoreboard to go up by a pair.

After Rob Quinones tied things up with a two-run inside-the-park homer in the top of the fourth, A Plus added six more in the home half of the frame to lead 12-6.

Militia answered with five, capped off by Quinones’ two-run triple, and, after A Plus added a single run, Bill Bogen put Militia ahead for good with a three-run inside-the-park round tripper.

Angel Cruz’s four base hits led the Militia offense. Bogen, who totalled five RBIs, and Quinones banged out three hits apiece while Mason Laccone, Tyler Leopizzo, Hoffman and winning pitcher Alex Arpi added a pair each.

A Plus got two hits apiece from Joe Ezzo, Josh Wifall and Mero. Davila took the mound loss.